For just a few weeks ago, the heavy metal star was reunited with his band Black Sabbath for a final concert together, 20 years after the group's last performance. From a throne on the stage at Villa Park in his former hometown Birmingham, Osbourne told the fans:
"You have no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Swedish metal drummer Mikkey Dee, who has toured with Ozzy Osbourne, describes him as "super funny" and a "firecracker like no other”.
When we were out on the "No more tours" tour in 1992, he said goodbye and that it was the last thing he would do. And here we are in 2025 and he goes up on stage in Birmingham, says Dee to Göteborgs-Posten.
Became a reality star
Osbourne was a pioneer in heavy metal with the band Black Sabbath before he later had great success as a solo artist. The band's most famous hits include ”Iron man”, ”Paranoid”, ”War pigs”, ”Crazy train” and ”Changes”.
A large part of his life and career has been marked by alcohol and drug abuse, and the anecdotes about the hard rock star are many.
In the early 2000s, Ozzy Osbourne won a new audience through the reality series ”The Osbournes”, which portrayed the chaotic family life in Los Angeles together with his wife Sharon and two of their children, Kelly and Jack.
Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, which he made public the following year, and also suffered from other health problems in recent years, including complications after a fall in 2019.
Many remember Ozzy
After Ozzy Osbourne's death became known, condolences are pouring in on social media. The hard rock band Metallica, which was one of several support acts during Osbourne's and Black Sabbath's last concert, has posted a picture from the 1980s on X with a broken heart as the only comment.
Black Sabbath publishes a photo of Osbourne from the performance with the caption: "Ozzy Forever!” The Rolling Stones' guitarist Ronnie Wood writes on X: ”I am so sad to hear about Ozzy Osbourne's death. What a wonderful farewell concert he had on ”Back to the beginning” in Birmingham."
"Prince of Darkness"
Elton John describes his "dear friend" as a "huge pioneer who has secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods". Ali Campbell, singer in the Birmingham band UB40, writes: "Rest in peace Ozzy. Prince of Darkness. A true Birmingham legend."
Even the football club Aston Villa pays attention to the rock star's death on X. Ozzy grew up in Aston, not far from Villa Park, and always had a special connection to the club.
Born in 1948 in Birmingham as John Michael Osbourne.
Started singing in local rock bands at a young age and eventually formed the band Earth together with guitarist Tony Iommi. The band later changed its name to Black Sabbath.
Black Sabbath released their first record in 1970 and quickly gained a large audience in both the UK and the US. Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979 due to his alcohol and drug abuse.
In 1980, he began his solo career with the album "Blizzard of Ozz" and has since released a long series of records.
Reunited with Black Sabbath on several occasions, including on the studio album "13" which came out in 2013.
In 2001, Ozzy Osbourne and his family became known outside the hard rock sphere with the reality series "The Osbournes" on MTV. The extremely popular series was broadcast until 2005 and was followed up with other Osbourne projects on TV.
In 2006, Ozzy Osbourne and the rest of Black Sabbath were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
